Wednesday, 8 July 2015

Incomplete Best Chicken Rice in Singapore and Johor JK1175

If you are visiting Singapore, don't leave the sunny island without eating chicken rice. Here's 5 reasons why you must eat Singapore chicken rice.1. Chicken rice is Singapore's unofficial national dish. (It's often referred to as Hainanese chicken rice but you will find nothing like it in Hainan, China.)2. It's the most popular hawker dish in Singapore. Chicken rice stalls / restaurants can be found in every corner of Singapore.3. Because it is so popular, you learn something about Singaporeans' soul by eating and learning about it.4. The standard of chicken rice in Singapore is probably the highest in the world.5. A good chicken rice is oh... so delicious!What is good chicken rice?Every Singaporean has her/his own opinion, so I am just sharing my personal preferences.There are many streams and styles of chicken rice in Singapore. Each stall has their own variation to appeal to their following. Chicken rice stalls also serve chicken which are boiled, poached, deep fried or roasted.

I like my piece of chicken chopped into large meaty succulent chunks of meat with skin and bone on (not skinny slivers of skinless meat). I prefer my meat to be cooked through (though when I was younger I liked it pinkish medium rare). The meat should be tender yet with a slight bite, juicy with natural juices and still has a slight chicken flavour 鸡味.

The skin should be soft and smooth. I especially love it if there is a thin layer of jiggly jelly-like gelatin (fat) between the meat and skin. The chicken may be bathed in the stall's special blend of dressing sauce (usually a blend of sesame oil, light soy and peanut oil) which enhances the flavour but the sauce should not overwhelm the chicken's natural flavours.

I like my rice aromatic with savoury chicken flavour with hints of refreshing lemon grass, ginger and sweet pandan leaves. The long grains are tender with a little bite (not mushy soft), whole (not broken into chips) and separate easily into individual grains (not stuck together in a sticky starchy lump). The grains have a very light chicken oil coat but not slick and greasy.

I like my chili dip to have a sharp sting from fresh red chili peppers and spiked with freshly squeezed lime (not vinegar) for a slight tangy balance. It should not be overly watery from added water.I like my ginger dip to be roughly pounded rather than finely pureed with an electric blender. The ginger's mild spiciness is balanced with a little salt and chopped scallions are added for flavour and aroma.

There are other side elements like soup, vegetable pickles (achar) and salad that enhances the enjoyment of chicken rice but are not central in my humble opinion.The following chicken stalls in Singapore and across the Causeway in Johor Bahru (Malaysia) have most (though none have all) of the qualities I like in chicken rice.Please note that these are not all of the best chicken rice in Singapore or Johor - just the ones that I have enjoyed so far and share with you while I look for more of the best.Chicken Rice Stalls in Singapore

This is a 50 year old brand (Sin Kee of Margaret Drive), now run by the founder's sons who kept to many of the old traditions of the well loved old stall.Restaurant name: Uncle Chicken Rice <- click to read moreAddress: Bedok Market Place, 348 Simpang Bedok, Singapore S469560 GPS: 1.331136, 103.948501 Hours: 12:00 noon to 8:00pm (closed on Monday)

This relatively new stall is already making it's mark in Toa Payoh. The chicken and rice here compare well with the famous old names in the crowded world of Singapore chicken rice.Restaurant name: Master Chicken 雞師傳 <- click to read moreAddress: Blk 22 Toa Payoh Lor 7 #01-18 Singapore (Kim Keat Palm) GPS: 1.334793, 103.857708 Hours: 10:00am to 7:00pm (Closed on Monday) (Closed at 3:00pm on Sunday)

This a version poached in a blend of dark soy sauce and a bit of herbs. The chicken is so soft and smooth, it is inadvisable to eat this and talk at the same time (because of choking risk ;-p ). At SGD7 for half a bird, it's the most affordable that I know of in Singapore.Restaurant name: Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle 香港油雞飯麵 <- click to read moreAddress: Blk 335, Smith Street #02-166, Chinatown Food Complex, SingaporeGPS: 1.282705, 103.842889Hours: 10:30am to 7:00pm (Monday to Friday) | 8:30am to 7:00pm (weekend and public holiday) | (Closed on Wednesday)

This is chicken rice? What blasphemy?! The chicken rice purists might protest.This is The Diner by the Travelling COW's interpretation of chicken rice. I like it that this burger has all the qualities of a good chicken rice even though it doesn't looked remotely like it's ancestry.This chicken rice burger still needs a few minor tweaks but it's already great when I tasted it.Restaurant name: The Diner by The Travelling COW <- click to read moreAddress: #02-16, Level 2, CT Hub, 2 Kallang Ave, Singapore (nearest MRT station is Lavender and there is a free shuttle bus service available from the MRT station to CT Hub)GPS: 1.312567, 103.863160Hours: 11:30 am to 9:00 pm (closed Mondays)Tel: 9818 6636 Chicken Rice Stalls in JohorHey, as this is Johor Kaki blog, here are the Johor chicken rice stalls that I like :-D

This delicious chicken made one of my best friends teary eyed...... .Restaurant name: Restoran Tong 东肉骨茶馆 <- click to read moreAddress: 41, Jalan Hang Lekir 10, Taman Skudai Baru, Skudai, JohorGPS: 1.502524,103.638818Hours: 9:00am to sold out (usually around 2:30pm). Opens at 08:00am on weekends. (Rest days are not fixed. Rest for a week every two months.) Call 07-558-5367 to check.

Most of us have heard of Hainanese or Cantonese chicken rice. There is also Guangxi style chicken rice which is considered one the Guangxi Three Treasures 广西三宝 (the other two are Guangxi stuffed toufu and braised belly pork).Restaurant name: Sam Kong Restaurant 三江 <- click to read moreAddress: 8-H, Jalan Ungku Mohsin, Kampung Ungku Mohsin, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/N8BmUGPS: 1.514005,103.740173 Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Monday closed)This list is a work-in-progress and incomplete. Do check back regularly as I will be updating this list with new good chicken rice finds in Singapore and Johor.Please help me make this list better by sharing your favourite chicken rice in the comments. Thank you.First edition: 4 Jul 2015Return to Johor Kaki homepage.

DISCLAIMER

All information and data provided on this site is for informational purposes only. johorkaki.blogspot.com makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

COPYRIGHT

Johor Kaki is a protected trademark. You may not use the name in any way or form as it will be deemed as trademark infringement. The contents on http://johorkaki.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/johorkaki including the photos and text are copyright and may not be used without written permission from Tony. Tony will take legal action against trademark and copyright infringements.